Filipino cardinals sent off for Papal conclave 2025

THE day has come for the election of the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church.

On Wednesday, May 7, the Manila clergy in Rome sent off Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle and Manila Archbishop Cardinal Jose Advincula for this year’s Papal conclave to be held inside the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel. 

“We continue to pray for guidance and wisdom for our archbishops as they embark on this important journey,” The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila – Office of Communications said in a Facebook post, sharing Tagle and Advincula’s send-off photo.

Tagle, Advincula, and Filipino Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David are among the 133 cardinal electors who will vote for Pope Francis’ successor as the head of the Roman Catholic Church.

Tagle, known for his progressive views, is one of the papal frontrunners.

Fr. Francis Lucas, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) director for broadcast, earlier said in an interview that the 67-year-old cardinal could be the first Asian pontiff, but the Holy Spirit would still decide.

Conclave begins

At least two-thirds majority, or 89 votes, is required to elect a new pope.

The May 7 conclave will begin with a Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica at 10 a.m. (4 p.m. in Manila). At 3:45 p.m. (9:45 p.m. in Manila), the cardinals will be transported from Casa Santa Marta to the Apostolic Palace in choir dress and enter the Sistine Chapel.

The first vote is expected to be cast on Wednesday. After that, the 133 cardinal electors can vote four times on each following day—two ballots each morning and two each afternoon.

If no pontiff is selected after three days, the voting process will pause for a day. CBCP News reported that this day will be allotted to prayer, informal discussion, and a brief spiritual exhortation from the senior cardinal deacon.

The Sistine Chapel’s chimney will emit two colors of smoke: black if no candidate secured at least 89 votes, and white if there is a new pope.

While the world awaits white smoke, Vatican News shared photos of the “Room of Tears,” a small room next to the Sistine Chapel where the new pope will don the white papal vestments for the first time.